Are you feeling hungry yet because Taste of Tribeca is next Saturday? Gourmelle has been plotting where to start her tastes at the food festival of the year. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet hop to it. They’re $45 for 6 gorgeous tastes from over 70 neighborhood restaurants. If you wait until the day you will have to pay $50 per ticket so don’t delay. And all the proceeds go to help P.S.234 and P.S.150. So it’s one of the few times you should throw moderation to the wind and feel good about eating.

The diners at Sarabeth’s last Thursday certainly felt good about their deluxe dinner, thrown in aid of Taste of Tribeca. Those present report that it was night to remember and the chocolate cake was the crowning glory of a great meal. They also got their tickets as part of the deal so they are all set for the big day.

You too can still get ahead and get an evening out and a ticket this week at Macao Trading. The always hopping bar and restaurant is hosting a fund raising cocktail party on May 15^th that’s Tuesday, from 6-9pm. It’s $80 for drinks, appetizers and the best part perhaps a ticket to Taste of Tribeca. Sounds like a very entertaining way to buy a ticket to me.

There are sure to be so many terrific tastes this year. Gourmelle is wondering how to get round all the delicious offerings. She’s planning to make a beeline for Capsouto Freres where they will be serving Terrine Provencale. Capsouto Freres was one of the first restaurants to sign up for Taste of Tribeca and they have been stalwart supporters ever since. MaryAnns meanwhile will have Authentic Mexican Tacos - Carnitas, Chileancho Steak and Chipotle Adobo Grilled Chicken to choose from. Honestly Taste is a day of really hard choices. You’ll use up your 6 tastes on your ticket in a flash and you’ll probably be full but more delicious dishes will be beckoning. Err on the side of indulgence and buy some extra tickets so you don’t miss out.

You wouldn’t want to pass up a chance to try ROC’s Homemade Spring Vegetable Lasagne, or Trattoria Cinque’s Trofie Pasta with Pesto and Zucchini Flowers and Meatballs with Rosemary Milk. I mean how often do you have Rosemary Milk in your daily life?  Taste of Tribeca is the perfect place to take your culinary curiosity to new realms. You’ll be glad you stopped by Zucker’s booth because they are handing out Hand-Rolled Mini Bagels with Smoked Gaspe Salmon, Plain Cream Cheese, and Hand-Rolled "Marble Rye" Mini Bagels with "Hot and Steamed" Freshly Sliced Pastrami and a NYC Sour Pickle. Sounds like a yummy Saturday lunch to me. See you there. Gourmelle will be the one with an armful of plates to try.